UnChristian

Author: David Kinnamon
Type: Research Study
Shepnerd Rating: 4 Stars

David Kinnamon is the president of the Barna Group – a nationally recognized church research organization – who embarked on the 3 year task of discovering what Mosaics and Gen X-ers (16 – 30 year olds) think about Christianity – what he discovered was horrifying. 60% of those interviewed were churched individuals, and 40% were not. The statistics?

Only 16% of the total number said they had a “good impression” of Christianity. The vast majority said they were “Skeptical and frustrated” with the Church and Christians.

Of the unchurched interviewees, only 3% said they have a favorable view of Christians.

91% of churched individuals said ministry was hard because people are increasingly “hostile and negative about Christianity”.

The number one comment that was heard was "Christianity doesn't look like Jesus anymore, its "UnChristian". The vast majority said adjectives that described Christians were ones like: judgmental, hypocritical, too political, scientifically ignorant, homophobic, and sheltered.

What’s striking about the study is that it was commissioned by conservative right-wing Christians, and it reveals a scathing truth about their message to which they have countered “But Jesus said the world would hate us, so we are doing good!” – However, being hated was not the goal of Christianity. Jesus said the world would hate the disciples for shining the light of truth and mercy into a cruel and oppressive Pharisaic church structure. Kinnamon’s book shows clearly - Evangelicals are hated, but not for the right reasons. They are not being hated because they are teaching grace and truth, they are being hated because they are opposing science, common sense (can they truly believe that climate change is not occurring and the world is only 10,000 years old? Haven’t they heard of dinosaurs?), acting badly, rudely and without grace.

Each chapter ends with some thoughts about the issue at hand from some of the most well known evangelicals of the day. It lacks a call to change the church from being an entertainment palace/bully pulpit into a missional fellowship dedicated to Jesus Christ. Realizing evangelicals are the hands that feed him, he spends much time healing their hurt feelings, and neglecting to lay out a map for the healing of these wounded generations and furtherance of the real message of the Kingdom of God. Still it offers a hope that with our understanding of the effects - we can hear the Spirit to change the cause.

A Baptist minister wrote a review of the book in which he concluded: “This is a book all church leaders should read on their knees”. I heartily agree.

Starving Jesus

Authors: Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon
Type: Theology/Ecclesiology
Shepnerd Rating: 1 star

“Dangerous” is the first word I think of when it comes to this book. The authors will like that, patting themselves on the back for “offending” in the name of Christ. But this is not the kind of offense that should be spread around.

The book starts off well – with some spot-on critiques of the modern church. The premise is that American Christianity has become like the Pharisees – buildings that do internal programming for the “included”, and leaves the desperate, addicted and outcasts without the gospel. It’s true – in America we are far from the body Christ intended to create. Many of the ideas have been batted around emergent (a group they seem to love/use and hate/lampoon) and missional conversations for years. The solution – according to these two is three fold – Give, Fast and Pray. The give part goes okay. Then it all comes crashing down.

The authors advocate a 40 day fast (with water and juice – if you feel that is okay with God). It’s medically dangerous, physically damaging, and spiritually harmful. Let me count the ways:

1. The book doesn’t encourage a doctor’s help or advice even though that kind of starvation has potential harm written all over it. What about people with undiagnosed diabetes, hypoglycemia or other conditions? What about the fact the human body is not wired to go that long without food? Just because the author’s bodies are able to sustain this and they don’t die doesn’t mean it’s a good idea – it means God saved them from themselves.

2 The book ridicules anyone who thinks this “might not” be a good idea for people. Mahan writes “Our tendency is to listen to the doctors and health experts of the world. It’s an easy trap” (pg. 177) - My experiences is that a minister who tells you to ignore science, health and people who are trying to keep your body alive like doctors – is the trap.

3.The book uses weight loss (a vulnerability in many people’s lives) as a motivation for a “spiritual fast”. Weight loss is a medical/health pursuit – not a holy quest. Yet it keeps talking about the physical weight they lose.

4. The premise is flawed. The premise is that in Matthew 6 Jesus tells the Pharisees “When you fast, do not look somber…” not "IF you fast" – However – it may shock these “ministers” to discover that the Bible was not written in English – and the Greek text does not use a time indicative word like WHEN. It also does not say the fast has to be food. Christians for centuries have used lent as a fasting time without starving themselves.

5. The book makes fun of anyone who does not agree completely with the authors. It’s a very “my way or the highway” presentation. Anyone who disagrees is called “big-toothy-grin fake super Christian.” Which is the other sad part of the book = two Christians who claim the ability to love anyone in the porn industry where their ministry is focused – but cannot love the faithful who seek God in other ways.

Yes, the church is flawed and in many cases ineffectual. Yes we need to get into the world living the gospel message of freedom from sin. However, there are parents, grandparents and beautiful souls who pray with sincerity in church, believe with everything they have and raise their kids to know Jesus Christ is Lord. What do these people get for lives of goodness, love and devotion? From these authors they get ridiculed, talked down to and taken for granted. Driving around in an RV starving doesn’t make you more holy – just more mobile.

What starts out as a well intentioned voice for helping the church overcome apathy and materialism disintegrates into self-promoting (the last 3 chapters are all about their trip), and dangerous advice.